ECT-like stimulation unlocks lasting immature-like state in adult mouse neurons

A research team at Fujita Health University led by Professor Tsuyoshi Miyakawa has uncovered a novel mechanism of cellular plasticity in which repeated neuronal stimulation can durably alter the identity of mature neurons.

Using a neural stimulation pattern termed "Repetitive Optogenetic Stimulation (REPOPS)," the researchers found that granule cells of the hippocampal dentate gyrus undergo long-lasting changes in nuclear structure and gene expression, revealing a novel process which the team terms "nuclear reprogramming." ...